Tafseer of The Heights · Al-A'raaf · 7:88
Said the eminent ones who were arrogant among his people, "We will surely evict you, O Shu'ayb, and those who have believed with you from our city, or you must return to our religion." He said, "Even if we were unwilling?"
Important: The Arabic source text is always authoritative. This translation is a study aid and has not been verified by scholars — do not use it as a basis for religious proof or for deriving rulings (ahkam). When in doubt, always consult the Arabic text and a qualified scholar.
The explanation of His statement: The eminent ones who were arrogant among his people said: "We will surely drive you out, O Shuʿayb, and those who have believed with you, from our city, unless you return to our creed." He said: "Even though we detest it?" (7:88).
Abū Jaʿfar said: The Exalted, whose praise is mentioned, says: The eminent ones who were arrogant said — by "al-malaʾ" (the eminent ones) He means the company of men — and by "those who were arrogant" He means those who were too arrogant to believe in Allah, to submit to His command, and to follow His Messenger Shuʿayb, when Shuʿayb warned them of the severe punishment of Allah for their opposition to the command of their Lord and their disbelief in Him — We will surely drive you out, O Shuʿayb, and everyone who follows you, holds you to be truthful, and believes in you, and in that which you have brought, together with you, from our city, unless you return to our creed — He says: unless you and they return to our religion and that which we are upon — Shuʿayb said, answering them: "Even though we detest it?".
And the meaning of the statement is: that Shuʿayb said to his people: will you drive us out of your city and turn us away from the path of Allah, even though we detest that? Then the interrogative alif was placed before the "wāw" of "wa-law" (even though).
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Footnotes:
(1) See the explanation of "al-malaʾ" earlier, p. 542, note 2, and the references mentioned there.
(2) See the explanation of "istakbara" earlier, p. 542, note 2, and the references mentioned there.
(3) See the explanation of "al-milla" earlier, p. 282, note 2, and the references mentioned there.
